The Treasury has accepted that it contributed to the death of Chloe Moffat, a 26-year-old personal assistant who died by suicide the day after a disciplinary meeting, and said it has taken immediate steps to address the risks identified by a coroner.
Chloe Moffat died on May 20 last year, the day after a meeting with managers in which she was told about allegations that she had shared sensitive confidential information, which she denied. A coroner's report found that the Treasury's practice of "informal fact-finding" meetings with employees accused of serious or gross misconduct had no basis in the ministry's written policy and posed a risk of future death. At an inquest earlier this year, the department was found to have "materially contributed to Miss Moffat's death" by not informing her that the likely penalty, if the allegations were proven, would be a written warning and not dismissal.
In a response to the prevention of future deaths report, the Treasury "accepted the findings in the report in full" and said it had taken immediate action to mitigate the concerns raised. It has introduced strengthened "wellbeing safeguards" and stopped the use of informal fact-finding meetings while a full policy review is conducted. Employees facing allegations of gross or serious misconduct will be informed of the possible outcomes of the process before being asked to respond, and a suicide prevention framework is being developed along with enhanced mental health support, the department said. The Cabinet Office said it would also undertake a wider review of workplace conflict and resolution across Whitehall over the next 12 months.
Writing to assistant coroner for Surrey Anna Crawford, who conducted both the inquest and the prevention of future deaths report, HM Treasury and the Cabinet Office said: “We are committed to ensuring that the lessons arising from Chloe's death result in meaningful and lasting improvements.” They added that HM Treasury had accepted all recommendations from its independent review, which was shared with the coroner in January as part of the inquest process, and said the work introduces some enhancements, while much of it is intended to strengthen, clarify and build on procedures and support already in place.
A Treasury spokesperson said: "The Treasury's deepest sympathies continue to be with Chloe's friends and family, and the department continues to mourn our colleague." An independent review found staff acted in good faith and with a duty of care throughout, the spokesperson added.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- A coroner found the Treasury's informal disciplinary practice "materially contributed" to a young employee's death, putting a government department's internal procedures under formal scrutiny.
- The changes are aimed at preventing similar deaths: the informal fact-finding meetings that worried the coroner have already been suspended.
- The Cabinet Office's wider review means the implications could extend beyond the Treasury to how workplace conflict is handled across the whole civil service.
Background
Coroners in England and Wales can issue prevention of future deaths reports when an inquest finds that action could prevent further deaths, and the bodies involved are expected to respond with the steps they will take. Chloe Moffat, 26, worked as a personal assistant at the Treasury and died in May last year, the day after she was questioned about allegations she had shared sensitive confidential information, which she denied.
Key Perspectives
HM Treasury and the Cabinet Office: Accept the coroner's concerns "in full", say they have taken immediate steps to mitigate the risks, and are "committed to ensuring that the lessons arising from Chloe's death result in meaningful and lasting improvements".
Assistant coroner Anna Crawford: Found the Treasury "materially contributed" to Chloe Moffat's death by not telling her the likely penalty would be a written warning rather than dismissal, and that informal fact-finding meetings had no basis in policy and posed a risk of future death.
Independent review (cited by the Treasury): Found staff acted in good faith and with a duty of care throughout.
What to Watch
- The outcome of the Treasury's full policy review into discipline, and whether the suspension of informal fact-finding meetings becomes a permanent rule change.
- The Cabinet Office's 12-month review of workplace conflict and resolution across Whitehall, and any changes it prompts.
- The development and publication of the Treasury's suicide prevention framework and enhanced mental health support.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedThe Treasury accepts that it contributed to Chloe Moffat’s death after an inquest.The Independent UK: “Treasury accepts that it contributed to staffer's death after inquest.”
- SupportedThe department stopped informal fact-finding meetings and added safeguards after the coroner found the practice posed a risk of future death.The Independent UK: “Strengthened “wellbeing safeguards” have been introduced and the use of informal fact-finding meetings has been stopped while a full policy review is conducted, the department said.”
- SupportedMoffat, 26, was a personal assistant who died by suicide on May 20 last year.The Independent UK: “Chloe Moffat, 26, died on May 20 last year, the day after a meeting with managers”
- SupportedThe day before her death, Moffat was told in a meeting with managers about allegations that she had shared sensitive confidential information, which she denied.The Independent UK: “the day after a meeting with managers in which she was told about allegations that she had shared sensitive confidential information, which she denied.”
- SupportedA coroner’s report found that informal fact-finding meetings for employees accused of serious or gross misconduct had no basis in written policy and posed a risk of future death.The Independent UK: “A coroner’s report found that a practice within the Treasury of “informal fact-finding” meetings with employees accused of serious or gross misconduct had no basis in the ministry’s written policy and posed a risk of future death.”
- SupportedAt the inquest, the department was found to have “materially contributed to Miss Moffat’s death” by not telling her the likely penalty, if the allegations were proven, would be a written warning rather than dismissal.The Independent UK: “At an inquest earlier this year, the department was found to have “materially contributed to Miss Moffat’s death” by not informing her that the likely penalty if allegations against her were proven would be a written warning and not dismissal.”
- SupportedIn its response to the prevention of future deaths report, the Treasury accepted the findings in full and said it had taken immediate action to mitigate the concerns.The Independent UK: “In a response to the prevention of future deaths report, the Treasury “accepted the findings in the report in full” and said it had taken immediate action to mitigate the concerns raised.”
- SupportedThe Treasury introduced strengthened wellbeing safeguards and stopped informal fact-finding meetings while it conducts a full policy review.The Independent UK: “Strengthened “wellbeing safeguards” have been introduced and the use of informal fact-finding meetings has been stopped while a full policy review is conducted, the department said.”
- SupportedEmployees facing serious or gross misconduct allegations will be told possible outcomes before responding, and a suicide prevention framework and enhanced mental health support are being developed.The Independent UK: “Employees facing allegations of gross or serious misconduct will be informed of the possible outcomes of the process before being asked to respond and a suicide prevention framework is being developed along with enhanced mental health support, it added.”
- SupportedThe Cabinet Office said it would conduct a wider review of workplace conflict and resolution across Whitehall over the next 12 months.The Independent UK: “The Cabinet Office said it would also undertake a wider review of workplace conflict and resolution across Whitehall over the next 12 months.”
- SupportedIn a letter to assistant coroner Anna Crawford, HM Treasury and the Cabinet Office said: “We are committed to ensuring that the lessons arising from Chloe's death result in meaningful and lasting improvements.”The Independent UK: ““We are committed to ensuring that the lessons arising from Chloe’s death result in meaningful and lasting improvements.””
- SupportedA Treasury spokesperson said: “The Treasury's deepest sympathies continue to be with Chloe's friends and family, and the department continues to mourn our colleague.”The Independent UK: “A Treasury spokesperson said: “The Treasury’s deepest sympathies continue to be with Chloe’s friends and family, and the department continues to mourn our colleague.””